Everything You Absolutely Must Do in LA This Spring

Springtime is here at last, and after an especially cold Los Angeles winter, it’s time to gear up for the best that this pre-summer season has to throw at us. We present to you the Must-Do LA Spring Calendar, featuring such delights as cemetery movie screenings, free arcade machines, and of course, the cultural touchstone that is Coachella.

Twenty-five dollars gets you access to two hours of all-you-can-eat wings, two drinks, DJs, and games ($35 gets you an extra drink ticket and early entry). And, try to stay calm, but Gus’s infamous Tennessee fried chicken will be there.

Sure, this is all the way out in Banning, but there will be over 1,100 pinball machines and arcade cabinets on display -- both vintage and modern -- and they’re all set to free-play. Who knows, you might even best Billy Mitchell’s Pac-Man high score! But probably not.

The annual endurance tester is back once again, starting at Dodger Stadium and ending in Santa Monica for a whopping 26 miles. If you’re not of the running-26-miles persuasion, don’t worry, there will be bands and festivities along the way -- so basically, drink a bunch and then do what you can?

This 6-mile journey from Culver City to Venice is part of an annual program that sees select routes between neighborhoods become temporary car-free zones, allowing Angelenos to explore their surroundings on foot or via any people-powered vehicle. Grab a bike, skateboard, Razor scooter, or your favorite pair of Heelys, and get rolling.

San Diego Comic Con’s admittedly-not-as-cool-but-still-way-closer cousin is back again. If you’re unfamiliar, expect a lot more than just comics -- this will be the hub of all the media you can handle, including movies, TV shows, animations, books, collectibles, and games. Finally, an excuse to wear your Underoos on the outside!

This year, the Blue Crew will be starting off against the San Diego Padres -- show up early to grab some nearby eats, then check out the secret Japanese garden behind Parking Lot 6. Here’s hoping for a strong season... right guys? Guys?

The ACLU has never been more important, so if you’ve been trying to find the best way to donate, here’s a great one. Macklemore, Zedd, Imagine Dragons, and more are topping the bill at this live fundraising show, so snag tickets while you can.

The annual beer fest is here at last, held once again at LA Center Studios. Expect live music, a dueling piano bar, and food trucks galore -- oh, and with 80 breweries showing up, probably be a little bit of beer too.

The Reykjavík Festival will last until April 17, but if you want to see some of the best that Iceland has to offer, hit Disney Hall for any of the three shows Sigur Rós will play. Their ethereal live performances are not-to-be-missed.

OK, so yeah, Beyoncé dropped out. Understandable when you’re carrying two human beings inside of you. Does that mean you also have to miss Bon Iver, and Radiohead, and Kendrick Lamar, and HANS ZIMMER? No, it doesn’t mean that at all.

If you missed the LA Beer Fest, or you just need another day for beer guzzling, Anaheim has your back. Plus, Anaheim secretly has the best beer scene around, so get ready to drool all over your OC favorites.

The indie-er, desert-ier, and new age-ier version of Coachella is gearing up for its summer festival. If you’re not familiar with the music of such acts as Orgone, Dirtwire, and Baraka Moon, don’t worry; it’s a guaranteed great time no matter what. Oh, and it’s also like a third of Coachella’s price as well.

While we’re not positive about this date, Tacolandia usually lands on the second Saturday of June. If you haven’t been, it’s more or less the premiere taco festival in LA, so get hungry, and stay tuned for more info.

Oh, this? It’s only the biggest game convention/conference anywhere, where major publishers announce their latest games, consoles, and peripheral accessories. If you care at all about video games, E3 is the place to be.